It's Not All Bad: 2016 Election

With election day approaching at lightning speed, tensions are climbing among 2016 presidential election candidates and voters alike.

The election has caused plenty of anxiety, indecisiveness, and frustration throughout the entire nation. Overall, it is one for the history books. Before we eagerly, reluctantly, nervously, or even fearfully make our way to the polls this week, let’s take a look back at some of the more positive aspects of the 2016 presidential election.

The youth finally care about politics!

Just look at Kendall Jenner, arguably one of the most prominent stars of today’s youth, telling her Instagram followers that “voting is cute.” Never before have the nation’s young voters so arduously expressed their political preferences and encouraged each other to register to vote with such passion.

2016 politics mean progress

Hillary Clinton is the first woman in United States history to win a major party presidential nomination. Yes, this has been a long time coming, and perhaps Americans don’t exactly deserve a standing ovation for finally nominating a woman to run our country (something other countries have been doing for half a century), but this progress is better late than never and it’s certainly something to celebrate about the 2016 election.

The American Dream is still alive

For whatever it’s worth, Donald Trump has successfully climbed the political ladder without a background in politics. Through sheer power of will and by, ahem, extensively exercising his right to freedom of speech, Trump has a created a true “rags to riches” story…that is, with strict regards to his political résumé.

With harsh division comes strong unity

Nothing instantly bonds strangers like thinking the same candidate is out of his/her mind, untrustworthy, unfit for presidency, or generally repulsive. Although such harsh opinions have spawned many arguments, they have also forged unexpected alliances, like Meryl Streep and Snoop Dogg’s mutual endorsement of Hillary Clinton.

If nothing else, this election serves as a powerful reminder that YOUR VOTE COUNTS!

With the country so divided, individual voices have become more and more important. This election has graced us with a few not-so-bad consequences (like Streep-Snoop Dogg 2k16), but in order for it to result in a great presidency, we need to show up to the polls this week and make our votes count.